Believing unto Salvation I. The most important question A. Studying together next few weeks B. Particularly how can we personal ask & answer that question C. Because is most important, terribly attacked 1. Errors on both sides of the ditch 2. Scriptures terribly twisted 3. What question Bible give; how definitively answer? II. What must I do to be saved? A. Philippian jailor – Acts 16:30 B. Believe name of Jesus – Acts 16:31 1. Study what means to believe name of Jesus a. Bible justification & sanctification b. Once saved, always saved? c. Covenants of grace 2. How do we answer this most important question? III. What does it mean to believe on Jesus Christ? A. No other name – Acts 4:12 1. Ancient world a. Polytheistic world – multiple gods b. Babylon, 9th BC – 65,000 gods c. Rome – Roman, Greek, Persian, Babylon: groves, cities, everything supernatural 2. Still rings true today a. From increasingly popular eastern religions b. Salvation by church, good works, etc. c. Forsake everything else to believe in Jesus B. No other name in NT nor in OT 1. Grace of God brings salvation to all men – Titus 2:11 2. OT didn’t work & NT just say some magic formula 3. Not two groups in heaven – how did you get here? 4. Look unto me & be saved – Is. 45:21, 22 C. Serpent in the wilderness – John 3:14-16 1. Realization doomed to death 2. Acknowledgement of error 3. Willingness to surrender pride & accept a non-rational cure 4. Determination to endure ridicule & hardship D. Believe in our heart – Rom. 10:9, 10 1. Heart = affections 2. Put heart into it = doing best, everything you can 3. Forgiving, obeying from heart 4. Love that is shown by our outward actions E. Receive him, power to be sons of God – John 1:12 1. Must endure chastening – Heb. 12:7 2. Must be like Him – 1 John 3:2 3. Power to follow Him not just w/lips, but in everything F. Believe, if have Son, have eternal life – 1 John 5:12, 13 1. Believe on Him as our Creator 2. Believe on Him as our Savior 3. Believe on Him as our Master 4. If we truly believe, we have Him abiding in our hearts & eternal life 5. Do we truly believe? More than just lip belief or brain belief? 6. Do we believe from our hearts? Are we willing to look upon Him uplifted as the serpent of brass? 7. Are we willing to be His sons & daughters? 8. Will you choose to believe on Him w/your whole heart today?
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